McGowan desperate to emulate his young pals

Having been on loan at Partick Thistle earlier in the campaign, McGowan returned to Tynecastle and has featured as a substitute recently against Hibs and Inverness. Contrast that with Templeton, who is now a regular starter in the Hearts first-team and on the verge of a call-up to the Scotland squad.

McGowan, a former Australian Under-21 internationalist, does not begrudge his former house-mate his progress. The pair went through their formative years together both inside and outside Riccarton, forging a lasting friendship.

McGowan joked that Templeton was "just a little ned from Glasgow" when they first met but his development at Hearts is testimony to what can be achieved.

"You just need to look at David Templeton this season, he's excelled and he's up for Young Player of the Year. It just goes to show that, if you do well in the team, the gaffer will keep you there. That's what any young player wants," said McGowan. "We used to be in digs together a couple of years ago. He was just a little ned from Glasgow who got chucked into my house. We lived together for a year or so and then my brother (Dylan) came over so he got kicked out back to Glasgow.

"Temps and I played together in the under-19s and reserves so he is a good friend. I think he should be in the Scotland squad. Lee Wallace was on the fringes here when I first came and he's now a Scotland internationalist. My first time watching Hearts was Andrew Driver's debut against Inverness. These are just a couple who have gone on and done really well.

"You don't find too many 19 or 20-year-old centre-backs which is maybe why I've not come through so much lately. I can play centre midfield as well, that's where the gaffer's been playing me. Central midfielders get changed more often so that might be my chance to make an impact. The gaffer said I have to try and get as many minutes as I can. He has trusted me to go on against Hibs and last week against Inverness, which I've enjoyed."

Hearts are desperate to secure a third-place finish in the SPL as quickly as possible. For McGowan and other emerging young players, that may increase the opportunities for first-team exposure. "Being at Hearts, you want to get third. We should be getting third and then pushing on," he continued. "The quicker we can get that done the better. If we secure third then it might be a chance for younger boys like myself to get more game time.

"After every month at Partick, Hearts had the option to bring me back and Partick understood that. I'm very grateful to them for taking me on because I felt I wasn't getting much game time here. I was playing reserve games but it's not the same. Even at Partick I was lacking match fitness but Ian McCall still kept faith with me.

"Last year I was at Ayr United and we were in a relegation battle. I played 31 games for them and it was a great experience being down the bottom and needing to win games. There was a bit more expectation at Partick but I enjoyed every minute of that as well.

"I came over here to play first-team football. No disrespect to Ayr or Partick, but I want to play for Hearts. That's where I want to be. I was hopeful of getting a chance at the start of the season but the team has done really well so I couldn't complain. The gaffer thought it would be better for me to go on loan and get more experience so that when I did come back he could chuck me in."

Ironically, just as he begins making an impression, McGowan's future will be up for discussion at the end of the season when his contract expires. "There is an option for another two years but it's up to the club. If Hearts don't want me I don't think I could just keep coming in. But it's a massive club and it's an honour to be part of the team. We're looking to go on to bigger and better things next season and I'd like to be part of that."